The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recently recognized Lyman Gilmore School in Grass Valley — among 82 schools statewide — for having the highest student participation in physical education in the county.

The middle school on Rough and Ready Highway joined a contest called 2007 Governor’s Challenge Competition early this year that assessed which schools in California have the highest percentage of students active 30 to 60 minutes a day, at least three days a week for four weeks. The conditions of the contest were reiterated in a letter from the Governor’s Council to Principal Brian Buckley of Lyman Gilmore.

“This is a brand new competition,” said Jon Byerrum, superintendent of Grass Valley school district. “This is the first group of schools awarded in the state.”

The competition was a challenge from the governor to get kids to be more physically active, Byerrum said.

“Every day there are 12 periods of physical education at Lyman Gilmore,” Buckley said. “Every student takes physical education every day of the week.”

As a prize, the school has received a piece of interactive high-tech entertainment equipment called XaviX, worth $500, according to Buckley.

“We will set up the unit and have groups of kids play virtual tennis, golf, or baseball at lunch time,” Buckley added.

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To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail soumitros@theunion.com or call 477-4229.